Vermin destroyer



April 1948, G. A. WILSON VERMIN DESTROYER Filed Jan. 5, 1946 Patented Apr. 20, 1948 um TED STATES j, PAT ENT OFFICE VERMIN DESTROYER.

George A. Wilson Bogue Ghitto, Miss. I App ication January 5, 1946, SeriaLN 689,327

1 Slain). 1

This invention relates to a vermin destroyer andparticularly toequipment for destroyin rats, mice, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to destroy vermin such as mice, rats, and similar small animals and at the same time protect humans from injury.

Another object is to entice the vermin to be destroyed so as to cause them to endeavor to reach bait contained therein, and then through electrical means cause the execution of the vermin.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies, among its features, a substantially trough-shaped bait container open at opposite ends, a pair of spaced, parallel electrodes extending across each end of the bait container in such a position as to bar entry of the vermin into the bait container, and means to connect the electrodes to a source of electrical energy whereby, when the animal seeks to enter the trough-shaped co'ntainer, it will contact the electrodes and become electrocuted.

Other features include a cover adapted to close the open, upper side of the bait container, and a conducting platform at each end of the bait container which is connected to one electrode at each end of the container so as to increase the area of electrical contact of the animal to insure proper electrocution.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vermin destroyer embodying the features of this invention, certain portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate certain details of construction,

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the vermin destroyer.

Referring to the drawings in detail, this improved vermin destroyer comprises a bait container designated generally H] which is of troughshaped structure and formed of a bottom wall 1 l to which side walls I2 and I3 are secured as by nails I4 (Fig. 3).

Secured as by staples IE to the side wall l2 and extending longitudinally thereof in spaced, parallel relation are bus bars [6, the ends of which bent angularly to form spaced parallel electrodes I! which extend transversely of the trough or bait container I I) and have their ends opposite those connected to the bus bar l6 received in sockets l8 formed in the wall l3. As illustrated in Figure 1, the bus bars I6 are of slightly less len th. than the length of the side walls 12 and [3 .of, the baitcontainer so that the ends of the bottom and side walls H, l2 and I3, respectively, will serve to protect persons from contacting the electrodes I1. Soldered or otherwise connected, as at 13, to the bus bars l6 are the terminals of electrical conductors which are carried through a suitable cable 20 to any suitable connecting device 2| by which the cable and bus bars may be connected to a source of power.

Hingedly connected, as at 22, to the upper edge of the wall I3 is a cover 23, the ends of which project beyond the ends of the wall [3 so as to form guards which cooperate with the walls l2 and IS in preventing contact of the electrodes I! by humans, or the like.

Attached as by screws 24 to opposite ends of the bait container l0 are attaching ears 25 of platforms 26, each of which is preferably formed from a conducting material such as iron or copper, to the back or underside of each of which is attached an insulating pad 21. A conductor 28 is'soldered or otherwise attached to the lowermost bus bar I6 adjacent opposite ends thereof and these conductors 28 are in turn soldered, as at 29, to their respective platforms 26. It will thus be seen that when the lower bus bar I6 is energized, the platforms 26 also will be energized.

In use, it will be understood that bait is placed in the bait container in near the center thereof and the connector 2| is plugged in to a convenient power outlet so that both bus bars IS will be energized. The cover 23 is closed to prevent access to the bait through the top of the trough-shaped container l0 and the platforms 25 rest upon the floor or surface upon which the device is supported. As a rat, for instance, is attracted to the bait contained within the bait container l0, it will endeavor to gain access thereto through the open end thereof, and standing on the platform 26, the animal will contact,both electrodes l1 and will receive sufficient electrical energy through its body to become electrocuted. The device of this invention may be employed wherever a suflicient voltage can be impressed on the bus bars l6 and electrodes l1. Due to the fact that the end walls I2 and I3 project beyond the length of the bus bars l6, and the fact that the cover 23 is of such length as to overhang the ends of the bait container I ll, it is obvious that accidental contact of humans with the electrodes I1 is inhibited, while at the same time the electrodes H are accessible to the vermin to be destroyed. It is obvious that the size of the device may be altered to enable it to be used for the destruction of mice as well as rats without in any way altering the functions of this invention.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In a vermin destroyer, a trough-shaped bait container open at opposite ends, a pair of spaced, parallel electrodes extending between the side walls of the bait container near but spaced inwardly from opposite ends thereof, said electrodes being so spaced from one another as to inhibit access of vermin to bait contained in the bait container, a conducting platform pivoted to the bait container at each end thereof, means establishing electrical connection between each platform and an electrode, a cover hinged to the upper edge of one of the side walls of the bait container and adapted to close the open, upper side thereof, said cover having its opposite end portions constituting guards overhanging the platforms when the cover is above the container, and means to establish electrical communication between the electrodes and a power source.

GEORGE A. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,121 Vaughn Sept. 14, 1897 1,024,278 Niederlitz Apr. 23, 1912 1,305,672 Ziavin Aug. 13, 1912 1,307,678 Kopel June 24, 1919 2,302,787 Meehan Nov. 24, 1942 

